Intermediality: Literature, Film and the Arts in Dialogue MSc

Level: Postgraduate taught

Subject: Film and Intermediality

Year of entry: 2026

Study options

Mode of study

On campus

Full-time
  • MSc | 1 year | Start date: September 2026
Part-time
  • MSc | 2 years | Start date: September 2026

Key facts

School

School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures

College

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Study location

Central Area

Accreditation

Not available

Apply now

19 to 21 November 2025: Postgraduate Virtual Open Days

Join us live to explore postgraduate taught and research study at Edinburgh and gain key insights before you apply.

Register now

About the degree programme

As the first UNESCO World City of Literature, home of the Edinburgh International Festival and a major cultural hub, Edinburgh is the ideal place for the study of intermediality, that is, the interrelations between different art forms and their signification.

Our taught masters programme draws on world-class teaching and research expertise across media, from literature to film, music, painting, photography and visual culture more widely.

The programme will give you an good understanding of intermedial theory and equip you with the critical tools and historical background for understanding and analysing a wide range of intermedial phenomena across different periods and cultures, with an emphasis on the modern and contemporary period.

You will be encouraged to develop your own area of interest and expertise, with specially-designed option courses offering a detailed focus on the interplay between different art forms in, for instance:

  • film adaptation
  • photo-literature
  • film and the other arts
  • the graphic novel
  • installation art
  • video games
  • artists' books

This leads to a final dissertation or a practice-based project accompanied by a reflective essay, pursuing your research interests further and developing your research skills.

Combining core courses with optional courses, training in research methods, and a dissertation or practice-based project will help you understand the theory and practice of intermediality, as well as developing your independent research skills to publication standard. Many of our graduates have gone on to complete PhDs.

Why Edinburgh

Based in a world-leading festival city, our MSc draws on the expertise of research-active teaching staff from across the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC) and Edinburgh College of Art (ECA). Literature and the arts have been taught here for over 250 years, and we are exceptional in having a leading international art college within the University of Edinburgh.

You will be part of a friendly, international community of staff and students from a range of disciplines and backgrounds, each with their own perspective on literature and the arts, with lots of opportunities to discuss and present your work. LLC and ECA have excellent links with cultural partners in the city and organise a regular series of talks and events.

You will have access to a wide range of resources, including the:

  • University of Edinburgh Library
  • National Library of Scotland
  • Scottish Poetry Library

There are also numerous theatres, museums, galleries and cinemas, including:

  • the Traverse Theatre
  • National Galleries of Scotland
  • Stills Gallery (Scotland’s Centre for Photography)
  • Cameo Picturehouse

Check out the Intermediality blog

Study options

There are two study options for this programme, both starting in September of the academic year.

Full time

If you take the full-time study option, you will complete the programme in one academic year.

You will take two core courses in Semester 1 (September to December) and another two in Semester 2 (January to April). You will also choose an option course in each semester. 

You will submit your final project around 12 weeks after Semester 2 ends.

Part time

If you take the part-time study option, you will complete the programme in two academic years.

In your first year, you will take two core courses in Semester 1 and one option course in Semester 2.

In your second year, you choose one option course in Semester 1 and take two core courses in Semester 2. You will also submit your final project around 12 weeks after Semester 2 ends.

What's the best type of masters programme for you?

Programme rankings

  • 3rd in the UK in the broad subject area of Arts and Humanities (QS World Rankings by Subject 2025)

Programme benefits

  • Study the interrelations between different art forms and their signification
  • Experience life in Scotland's capital city - a cultural hub filled with independent cinemas, galleries and annual festivals
  • Combine a mix of core and optional courses with a final project based on your own interests
  • Join a supportive and international community
  • Delve into fantastic libraries and collections

In an era where the interplay of media is at its prime, Intermediality enables you to identify and analyse the various manifestations of such collaborations. Couple that with an enthusiastic team and constant guidance in articulating your ideas; this MSc will leave you wanting more! Besides what better place to practice, study, and observe intermediality than the home of iconic festivals that celebrate all things media and arts?

Irene Intermediality MSc graduate, 2022

Tuition fees

Tuition fees by award and duration

Tuition fees for full-time and part-time options are listed for one academic year.

Full-time
Part-time

Graduate discount

If you are a University of Edinburgh graduate, you will be eligible for a 10% discount on your tuition fees for this programme. You may also be eligible if you were a visiting undergraduate student.

Find out how to receive your graduate discount

Deposit

You do not have to pay a deposit to secure your place on this programme.

Costs

Accommodation and living costs

You need to cover your accommodation and living costs for the duration of your programme.

We estimate that you might spend £1,167 to £2,330 per month if you are a single student.

Living costs include:

  • food
  • utility bills
  • travel, clothes, books and stationery
  • recreational costs (for example, TV subscriptions and social events)

Living costs

Accommodation costs depend on where you live while studying and the type of accommodation you choose.

University postgraduate accommodation options and costs

Funding opportunities

Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.

Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

  • borrowing money
    • taking out a loan
    • family support
  • personal savings
  • income from work
  • employer sponsorship
  • scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

Search for other funding opportunities

You can find scholarships, bursaries and other funding you might be eligible for on our Scholarships and Student Funding site.

Postgraduate funding opportunities

These entry requirements are for the 2026-27 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2027-28 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2026.

Qualifications

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a relevant subject.

International qualifications

To find international equivalent qualifications, select where you studied from the country or region list.

English language requirements

You must prove that your English language abilities are at a high enough level to study this degree programme.

This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals.

You can meet our English language requirements with one of the following:

  • an English language test
  • a degree that was taught and assessed in English
  • certain professional qualifications

English language tests we accept

We accept any of the following English language tests, at the specified grade or higher:

  • IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each component We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 23 in each component We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 176 in each component.
  • Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
  • Oxford ELLT: total 8 with at least 7 in each component.
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced: total 155 with at least 145 in each component.
How old your English language tests can be
Tests no more than two years old

The following English language tests must be no more than two years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality:

  • IELTS Academic
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition)
  • Trinity ISE
  • Oxford ELLT
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced
Tests no more than three and a half years old

All other English language tests must be no more than three and a half years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality.   

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English-speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration.

UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English-speaking countries (non-MESC).

Approved universities in non-MESC

How old your degree can be

If you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts.

This time limit does not apply to your degree if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country.

Find out more about our English language requirements

Find out about other English language qualifications we accept, including professional qualifications.

English language requirements

What you will study

You can take the MSc Intermediality: Literature, Film and the Other Arts over one year (full-time) or two years (part-time).

Over the duration of the programme, you will take four core courses, and two optional courses. Each course is worth 20 credits.

The final element of the programme (worth 60 credits) will be either:

  • your dissertation, a piece of independent research of 15,000 words
  • a practice-based project accompanied by a 5,000-word reflective essay

You will receive the advice and support of a designated supervisor and, if you choose to do a practice-based project, you will either work alone or in a group of a maximum of five students.

Compulsory courses

The core courses are in Theories of Intermediality, and Research Methods in Intermediality, moving from general research skills to specific research problems, theories and methods, preparing you for your dissertation or practice-based project.

Option courses

We make recommendations for optional courses based on their intermedial element, but there are a broad range of subjects to choose from every year. Typically, they include (but are not limited to):

  • Film and the Other Arts
  • Literature and Photography in the 20th century
  • Music and Image
  • Filming the Canon: Adaptation, Authorship, Alterity
  • Decadence in European Art and Literature, 1857-1914
  • Italy by Design: Materiality, Intermediality, and Commodification from Leonardo to the MAXXI
  • The Graphic Novel: Narrative in Sequential Art
  • Global Shakespeare across Media: Performance, Cinema, Digital Cultures

All option courses are subject to availability and that some may have limited spaces.

Find courses for this programme

Find out what courses you can study on this programme and how each of them are taught and assessed.

The courses on offer may change from year to year, but the course information will give you an idea of what to expect on this programme.

Full-time
Part-time

We link to the latest information available. This may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

Teaching and assessment

Learning outcomes

On completion of the programme you will have gained:

  • a thorough understanding of intermediality, as a subject and as a practice
  • knowledge of a number of theories and different approaches to the study of intermediality, and the ability to use them for analysis of literary texts, films and other art forms
  • the ability to focus in detail on the interactions between different art forms and to analyse a range of art works from an intermedial perspective
  • transferable skills such as critical thinking, analytical and interpretative ability, communication and writing skills

Support for your studies

You will have access to a range of support services if you need them throughout your degree.

We will assign you to a student adviser, and this should be the first person to contact if you need help. They can guide you to other University service teams depending on what support you need.  

How we support you

Our academic staff

Meet our Programme Directors. Find out what’s involved in this brand-new taught postgraduate programme exploring the interrelations between different art forms and their signification, and why you should study it in Edinburgh.

Inma Sánchez García, who teaches on our MSc in Intermediality, won Teacher of the Year (for the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences) at the student-led Teaching Awards 2024. 

In their nominations, our students particularly highlighted the way Inma creates 'a warm, tight-knit, engaging class where they feel supported and valued.' 

I love the intellectual curiosity of our MSc Intermediality students, the richness of having a culturally diverse cohort and how kind and supportive they are of each other. It is so heartwarming to see how much students value and appreciate the inclusive atmosphere of our classroom, how keen they are to share their thoughts and to try new learning methods, engaging so passionately with the creative tasks that I often bring to illustrate how intermediality is a theory and a practice that allows us to think outside the box.

Inma Sánchez García Lecturer in Intermediality Studies and winner of Teacher of the Year, 2024

Where you will study

Academic facilities

The Main University Library holds academic books, journals and databases, films, newspapers and other media.

Its Centre for Research Collections brings together:

  • more than 400,000 rare books
  • six kilometres of archives and manuscripts
  • thousands of works of art, historical musical instruments and other objects

Many of our Special Collections are digitised and available online from our excellent Resource Centre, Computing Labs, and dedicated study space in LLC.

Career opportunities

This interdisciplinary programme will give you the skills and experience to develop your independent research interests in a broad range of fields.

Doing this masters programme has altered my worldview in an unimaginable capacity. There are a number of skills which I have learnt from this programme but it is mainly the dedication and creativity of the Intermediality faculty through which I could rethink the nuances of cinema as an artistic medium.

Saad Siddiqui MSc Intermediality, 2023

You may decide to concentrate on an academic career or use your acquired skills in art institutions such as museums, galleries or cinemas. You may also choose to pursue a career in media companies, education or in cultural policy and administration.

The discipline and confidence you will develop from a range of activities - from evaluating, comparing and analysing texts and other media, to writing and speaking about your work - are invaluable in a range of professional roles.

Further study

After completing this programme, you may wish to consider applying for a PhD or other research programme.

Applying for research degrees

Moving on to a PhD (advice from the University's Careers Service)

Graduate profiles

Careers Service

Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals. 

The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies. 

With the Careers Service, you can: 

  • access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengths
  • try different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you develop
  • get help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobs
  • attend careers events and practice interviews
  • get information and advice to help you make informed decisions 

Visit the Careers Service website 

How to apply

You apply online for this programme. After you read the application guidance, select your preferred programme, then choose 'Start your application' to begin.

If you are considering applying to more than one programme, you should be aware that we cannot consider more than 5 applications from the same applicant.

When to apply

Due to high demand, this programme operates a gathered field approach to admissions, with two application deadlines as noted below.

Each application round has a decision deadline, also listed below, but note that we will make as many offers as possible to the strongest candidates on an ongoing basis, in advance of the published decision deadline.

We strongly recommend that you apply as early as possible, especially if you intend to apply for funding or a visa. Applications may close earlier than published deadlines if there is exceptionally high demand. If you are considering applying for our pre-sessional English Language programme, please make sure you apply in Round 1.

Please note that for an application to be reviewed, it must be a complete application by the application deadline with all supporting documentation uploaded, including your transcripts. If you already have evidence that you meet the English language entry requirements, such as via an approved English language test, please upload this evidence at the time of your application. If you have not already met your English language requirements, we will still review your application and issue a decision providing it is otherwise complete.

Selection deadlines

RoundApply byReceive decision by
1Monday 15 December 2025Thursday 19 March 2026
2Monday 4 May 2026Tuesday 30 June 2026

After Round 2, if there are still places available, applications will remain open. As this is not guaranteed, however, you are advised to apply by the application deadlines above.

Application fee

There is no fee to apply to this programme.

What you need to apply

As part of your online application, you will need to provide: 

You will also need to submit some or all of the following supporting documents:

When you start your application, you will be able to see the full list of documents you need to provide.

References

You do not need to provide a reference when you submit your application for this programme.

There may be certain circumstances when a reference will be required, for example if we need to verify work experience. If that is the case, we will contact you after we have reviewed your application to request a reference.

Apply

Select the award, duration and delivery mode you want to study. Then select the start date you want to apply for.

After you apply

Once you have applied for this programme, you will be able to track the progress of your application and accept or decline any offers.

Checking the status of your application

We will notify you by email once we have made a decision. Due to the large number of applications we receive, it might take a while until you hear from us.

Receiving our decision

What to do if you receive an offer:

What our students say

Living in Edinburgh has been a truly enriching experience: not only because of the city’s historical and aesthetic importance, cultural events, and proximity to nature, but specifically due to the traces of Scotland’s great writers and literary heritage you can find around every corner in monuments, landmarks, museums, libraries, archives, bookshops, and literary festivals.

Julia Voigt MSc Literature and Society graduate, 2025

Julia, who provided us with this quote about her experience of living and studying in Edinburgh, is originally from Germany. While studying with us, she was the Postgraduate Taught School Representative for the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC). 

Together with Programme Representatives, Postgraduate Representatives are your voice in the university - sharing your feedback to continually improve the student experience for everyone. Their roles are voluntary, and supported by the Edinburgh University Students' Association (EUSA).

Our community

On our Intermediality blog, you can read posts from our students, browse a cultural map of intermedial venues in Edinburgh, and get updates about our research strand, including events held in Edinburgh and Tokyo.

I cherished my time in this program. Intermediality is perched at the cutting edge of media studies and is a haven for interdisciplinary dreamers.

Kay MSc Intermediality, 2022

Accommodation

We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single postgraduate taught students from outside the UK and new, single postgraduate research (typically PhD) students who:

  • apply for accommodation by 31 July in the year when you start your programme
  • accept an unconditional firm offer to study at the University by 31 July
  • study at the University for the whole of the academic year starting in September

University accommodation website

Accommodation guarantee criteria

We also offer accommodation options for couples and families.

Accommodation for couples and families

If you prefer to live elsewhere, we can offer you advice on finding accommodation in Edinburgh.

Accommodation information from the Edinburgh University Students' Association Advice Place

Societies and clubs

Our societies and sports clubs will help you develop your interests, meet like-minded people, find a new hobby or simply socialise.

Societies

Sport Clubs

The city of Edinburgh

One of the world’s favourite festival cities, Edinburgh is famous for its film, theatre and performance cultures.

Host of the annual Edinburgh International Film Festival, the Edinburgh International Festival, and Edinburgh Festival Fringe, it is also a year-round hub of activity, bursting with art house cinemas, galleries, theatres and venues at a range of scales.

Study with us and you’ll be part of a friendly international community with interests and expertise in all aspects of film and intermediality, including curation, exhibition, and the dialogues between different art forms.

Many of the city’s resources are located close to the University's Central Area, making them very easy to access when you are on campus. For example, both the National Museum and National Library of Scotland are less than one kilometre from our School.

Find out more about living and studying in Edinburgh

Health and wellbeing support

You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.

The support services we offer include: 

  • a student counselling service
  • a health centre (doctor's surgery)
  • support if you're living in University accommodation
  • dedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustments

Health and wellbeing support services 

Disability and Learning Support

General enquiries

Contact our enquiry team about your eligibility or how to apply.

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences Admissions Office

Related degree programmes

Other degrees in Film and Intermediality